Assaulted his victim in the toilet at a bar

The victim of an assault in the toilet of a bar suffered a black eye and two missing teeth, Craigavon Magistrates Court heard last Friday.

Christopher William Kennedy (26), Ballybay Meadows, Portadown, was convicted of assault occasioning actual bodily harm on a male on March 22 last year.

Sentencing had been adjourned from a previous court so that a pre-sentence report could be obtained.

A barrister representing Kennedy said his client had been in court on the previous occasion but left because of family reasons and was convicted in his absence as all the witnesses were in attendance.

Deputy District Judge Amanda Brady pointed out that in the pre-sentence report’s offence analysis Kennedy said he did not assault the injured party.

The court heard that on March 22 last year the injured party attended at Edward Street police station in Portadown and claimed he had been assaulted. There was a reddening to his face and blood around his lips.

He made a statement on March 23 and named the defendant as the person who assaulted him.

The injured party alleged he had been punched three times about the face in a toilet of a bar, suffering a black eye, bruising to his jaw, two missing teeth and a split lip.

Kennedy’s barrister pointed out that this incident took place a year and a half ago and there were no further matters pending.

He added that his client was trying to get his life back on track and had secured temporary employment in the Portadown area.

Deputy District Judge Amanda Brady said that since this took place a year and a half ago and there was no further trouble she would impose community service.

Giving Kennedy 60 hours of community service she also ordered him to pay £150 compensation to the injured party.